TeeJay

Well, you're not talking about me, as I'm not asking my dad to buy me one For what it's worth, whatever car I bought, be it a BMW, Camaro, or a Skyline, they would all wind up getting converted (by me) into a replica of a car that was someway related to a movie or video game, as I am a collector of all kinds of movie memorabelia, and a car would be a logical inclusion for that collection. If anyone has (or knows where I can get) one of the Kim Cattrall mannequins (from the movie of the same name) that is also something I want to add to the collection. As long as that meets with TTKs approval, of course. Festive greetings and bah humbugs as appropriate

Or one installed for every time you call her on it? C'mon dude, there's just no need for bringing that to a thread I started to get advice on importing cars... It's supposed to be the season for goodwill and all that...

The thing that bugs me about it, is that the guy just wants to keep re-making the same (not particularly good) film, rather than just writing something new Thunderball was okay, but Never Say Never Again, was a shambles (although it did have Kim Basinger in it...) re-shooting it now, would be pointless.

I guess I could always cut holes in the floor and 'Fred Flintstone' it

Until my 127 arrived, my 029a was one of the highlights of my collection. Okay, so I couldn't get it to fit on my SS Bracelet, but, other than that, it is a gorgeous watch, and, if someone travels between timezones, the GMT function is certainly usefull. With regards keeping or selling... I wouldn't view the Seiko in terms of buying a gen, rather than keeping two reps, look at them all as 'watches'. If you'd wear the Seiko exclusively (or certainly the majority of the time), then the PAMs would be redundant. Do you keep redundant watches in your collection, or do you sell them/give them away? Personally, I tend to keep them, although I am thinking about giving away my 111h for the simple reason that I don't wear it now that I have my 127. Another aspect to consider, is would you be using cash from the sales of the watches to buy the Seiko? If you have to sell to buy, and would wear the Seiko primarily, then sell. If you don't have to sell them, and don't mind the redundant watches in your collection (as collection items) then why not keep them for a special occasion, like making them the designated 'holiday watch', for example...

I just thought I'd have a look on eBay, just to scout around, and, although it isn't the right year, I did find a Camaro for sale for $600. " " I thought, till I read the sale. Car is complete. Minus engine and transmission

From what I understand, FinePics is not taking on any more work due to health issues...

The 2531.80 and 2254.50 are both really nice watches. The 45mm Planet Ocean (2900.50.91) is also a really nice watch, but, on the rubber strap, is a bit hard to get under a shirt cuff, where the other two SMPs are much more versatile. Cash-wise, an old one will certainly be cheaper than new, but, as you said as with the Panerai (and something I apply to any watch or high-end product) I personally, don't feel that the product justifies the price, so I'd always say save the money by buying a really nice quality rep, and maybe using the remainder (of what a gen would cost) to treat yourself to something else. Of course, if you definitely want to get a gen, then go for it, and best of luck with your hunt

Thanks for the links You're right, an EU purchase could well cut back on some expenses, it's certainly worth a look, although as you say, going to the US to get one would be a great adventure Show-condition cars cost a fortune... I've seen enough episodes of Over-haulin' and Wrecks to Riches to know that in pristine condition, the cars command a high price. Fortunately, I'm looking for one that's not so perfect, to give it the 'personality' which Bumblebee had during the first half of the movie. I recal reading that that filming car was sold on eBay, and brought a price as high as a pristine car, simply because it was the movie production car. The 're-boot' car would also be nice, but, that was a custom-built concept car, which was actually built on a heavily modified Pontiac GTO with moldings and parts (even the wheels were faked) so that would also command a ludicrously high price (as would the real thing when it's released )

A year ago, I'd've never thought such a thing possible, but, this is now my firm favorite

What?!?!?! You're [censored] shitting me, right?!?! You mean I don't push a button on the dash and get a robot guardian to help me get the girl and defend me from school bullies?!?! Well [censored] that [censored] then, I'll look for something else... I've seen the Citroen adverts... Those bitches transform!!!! [Edit to add] The 'skating' robot appears to have been a design fore-runner for Bumblebee...

Thanks for the links, I'll give them a look I know there are UK magazines dealing in American cars, but, that's just asking to get my pants pulled down over the price, which was why I thought buying in the US and then importing it might be a cheaper option. Thanks to Narikaa's link, I've discovered that the VAT applies if the owner is importing it within 6 months of ownership. This won't be a purchase I'll be making for a while, but I wanted to try and get the facts well ahead of time. What I'm thinking might be worth doing, is, tracking down a car in the US, going over to see it, test drive it, etc, and buy it, then throw it in storage for 6 months with one of those storage companies and return to the UK. 6 months down the line, I can then make the plans to bring it over, and get round the 6 month ownership criteria

Well, it's the right color at least...

I was about to say, I believe they actually used a 1977, I keep thinking 78 as that's my date of birth... I'm no mathmagician [Edit to add] You're quite right, it was the 76, not 77 (or 78 ) model The fact I'm not looking for one in pristine condition will certainly help keep the price down

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'problem', as there are plenty of left hand drive cars in the UK, it might just make visibility slightly less easy Thanks for the link, I'll certainly look into it, I just wondered if folks might've had any personal insight rather than just 'facts and figures' on a site That's a fantastic suggestion, it would certainly solve a long freight trip for the car, would be a very good 'getting to know you/test drive', and of course, put me in the area for the proposed Europe GTG Cunning plan

Gotcha, bit of a miss-communication, it can happen to the best of us I see what you're meaning, ie, a watch with the visible parts replaced with gen parts, to the casual observer, is going to appear genuine. Gotcha Of course, any Rolex, genuine, rep or franken, is still always going to be met with "Is that real??"

I have a couple of 'grouped pairs' in my collection. Rolex: Modern Sub, and custom-built Sub with GMT function. Omega: SMPs 2531.80 and 2220.80. Also pairable, is the 2220.80 and 2900.50.91 (Casino Royale watches) I also have a pairing of 2209.50.00 and 2901.50.91. Panerai: 111h and PVD 111g I'll try and get some new photos of them all

I want to buy a 1978 Camero. I figure that, cost of the car, plus importing costs, is going to be less than buying a UK car, which, to be honest, does not 'grab me by the balls' the way this car has (thanks to the Transformers movie for putting a new face to the car) I've done a little scouting about online, and have found prices are reasonable, but, I don't know anything about the legalities or costs of importing, so wondered if anyone here might have any experience or advice? In terms of cost/condition of car, this is the kind of thing I want to get my hands on: When I'm finished working on it, I want it to look like this: Thanks in advance

Ahh, I wasn't 100% sure . Surry I couldn't be of more help, best of luck with your search

From one artist to another, awesome work, brother From a future client (still waiting for enough spare cash ) I can't wait to let you work your magic on mine

I believe they're called 'analysers', but I'm not 100% sure on that...

Oh indeed, different factors, but overall, the impression created (by whatever means) is that the person with the 'expensive item', might not have 'deep enough pockets' (about as polite a phrase as it gets ) to buy the gen item. It's a bit like seeing a young person driving an expensive car. The automatic assumption is that they're driving a parent's car, rather than it being their own property (as it's a bit harder (but not impossible) to get a fake car ) Indeed, things like you've mentioned, a man might not notice, but another woman might, where, to flip the situation, another man might spot a rep watch, but a woman might not. I had my 127 on open display all through boxing day (I had to wear a T-Shirt, as Emily's dad's house is like a sweatbox ) but it did not elicit one comment. Given that he works (at a stretch of the definition) in the watch industry, he should at least have recognized (or rather not recognized it) as an uncommon brand, which might in itself have elicited an enquiry, but not a whisper I guess what I'm trying to say, is that people need to know what they're actually looking at, before the issue of gen/rep can even begin to come into play Actually, I have not, but, I have no doubt that they are costly. I've seen Devil Wears Prada enough to know that I know what you mean, especially as if someone is familiar with a brand's catalogue, an unidentified product can raise suspicion. That said, I didn't know that there was a red-dialled SMP, so when I saw a pic of one, I thought it was a fantasy model, until it was explained that it was for the Asian market, and then it's a case of just not being familiar with a brand's entire catalogue Actually, Ken's lovely wallet went to Emily's step-grandfather, her dad got a pen and cuff-links from Narikaa, which, while incredibly nice, were the cheapest of all the presents I gave out, so, although he thought they were expensive (and has been flashing them about for two days in a row ) he got the least spent on him, and even then, that was being over generous. I just didn't want to give him the oportunity to say I hadn't got him anything It's honestly not a problem I have my 127 on it's new dive strap (I'm in a 'scruffy' rather than 'casual' mood today ) I'm possibly giving my 111h away, but, Me So Horny will find a good home on my 029a or PVD 111g (they just might not see much wrist time, as the 127 has really secured it's place as favorite ) I know you've had a lot of things to deal with, so no hurry at all

Do you think though, that that is simply the same basic 'brand recognition', which a watch enthusiast can use to tell if someone is wearing a rep or a gen watch, and the same basic principles applying? For example, someone wearing jeans, t-shirt and driving a crappy car, not so likely to be wearing a gen watch. By comparison, a woman wearing shabby clothes and driving a crappy car, not so likely to be carrying a gen handbag. I admit, that 'wearing it, or it wears you' method isn't 100% accurate, and is just an example, but, who's to say that just because someone is carrying last season's handbag, it has to be considered a rep? Maybe they just like the bag (this comes from the person who has used a promotional PS2 carry bag since the console was launched, simply because it met all my needs, and is now on the verge of structural collapse ) Emily's dad has given her several bags over the years, which, in theory could be (and he passed them off as) genuine, but, knowing the person behind the gift, we highly suspect to be fake. When he saw the Dior bag I got her for Christmas from Ken, it was never questioned, nor were the Mont Blanc pen and cufflinks I gave him. Under any other circumstances, I would say passing a rep item off as a gen item as a gift is an incredibly tacky thing to do, but, I would preface that by pointing out that a) I never actually told him they were gen, he made that assumption (helped by the lovely box the cufflinks came in (thanks to Narikaa for those items ) and b ) bear in mind that this is the man who owes so much in back-payments of childsupport, he will be repaying it untill Emily is in her 30s. (so not really deserving courteous treatment)

An awesome watch It took a while (from my first hearing about them) for me to warm up to the 127, but it is now my firm favorite. It's big, and the crystal distorts the markers, but there's something about it which makes it very appealing Wear it well

You did. Right here: Absolutley, you're quite right, this is a rep forum, and indeed, I couldn't care less if a watch has an Asian or Swiss movement in it. Actually, that's not quite true. By choice, I prefer Asian movements. I've found them to be more reliable, but that's just my own experience. Indeed, it doesn't matter what kind of movement it is, I just thought it was funny that you said that if the watch had everything but a gen movement, then it was aesthetically/functionally gen. I admit, it's a Ship of Theseus debate. Say someone has a gen watch, but the movement dies, so it gets taken to a local watch smith who throws in a POS movement. Does that mean the watch is no longer 'genuine'? Of course it doesn't, at least, not to the owner, or anyone knowing the watch's history. If someone were to build, from scratch, the exact same watch, people would be less inclined to consider it 'functionally genuine'. Indeed, it is cool to get parts and build something up, but, at the end of the day, the movement and the case are the most important parts. They're like the foundations of a house, or the canvas on which a masterpiece is painted. Without those key parts, the rest of the watch simply doesn't go together, and, as I said before, as the movement is what makes the watch function, then, if you want the watches functionality to be genuine, then you're going to need a genuine movement. I totally agree with what you've said, I was just amused by the expression you used